Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1882 — A DAUGHTER WORTH HAYING. [ARTICLE]

A DAUGHTER WORTH HAYING.

'“Harvey Mills has failed!” said Mrs. Smithson one chilly spring waning, as she ran in to see her next ■door neighbor and intimate friend, Mrs. James. “My husband just came home, and he says what we supposed to be a rumor only is a sad fact; the assignment was made yesterday. I threw on a shawl and ran over to tell you. They are to keep the house under some sort of an arrangement, but they have discharged ad of their servants, and what in the world Mills will do, Mrs. James, with Mrs. Mills’ invalid habits, and Miss Helena with her dsinty ways and refined bringing up, is more than I know,” and pretty shallow Mrs. Binithson looked at her news loving friend and neighbor with the air of an epicure regarding some favorite dish. “I heard about it last evening,” said Mrs. James, adjusting the pink ribbons, at the throat of her black silk dinner dress, “and this morning I presumed upon our cousinship so far as to drive over and see how they were getting along And really, Mrs. Smithson, you will be surprised when I tell you that, although'l expected to find the family in great confusion and distress, I never saw them in such a comfortable way and in such good spirits. The worst was over, of course, and they bad all settled into the new order of things as naturally as could be. My cousin Mrs. Mills was sitting as calm as you please up there in her sunny morning-room, looking as fresh ana dainty as she ate her toast and sipped her coffee.” “Our comfortable and cosy appearance is all due to Helena,” said she. “That dear child has taken the helm. I never dreamed she had so much executive ability. We were quite broken down at first, but she made her father go over the details of his business with her, and they found that by disposing of Helena’s grand piano, the paintings and slabs, and costly bric-a-brac her father has always indulged her in buying, we could pay dollar for dollar, and so keep the house. My husband’s old friend, Mr. Bartlett, who keeps the art store, you know, and who has taken a great interest in Helenna, bought back the statuary, vases, etc., at a small discount, and Barker, who sold us the piano a year or so ago, and who is another old friend, and knew, of course, just how we were situated, took it back, deducting only twenty-five dollars.” “Helena has just gone into the kitchen. What she will do there I don’t know; but she says -he needs the exercise, that she has not attended the cooking school here in the city for nothing, and so long as the meals are served regularly and properly and the house.kept in good ordeV, her father and I are not to worry.’ After she told me that, I drew my call to a close, and ran down into my cousin’s kitchen to see her dainty daughter there. And wfaat do you think ? I found that girl at the sink, with her sleeves rolled up, an immense water-proof apron on, washing a kettle!” “Washing a kettle?” repeated Mrs. Smithson, holding up both her •oft. white hands in unmeasured asto ishment. “Yea, Mrs. Smithson, washing a exeat, black, greasy, iron kettle that

me&had been boiled in, -and had been leit unwashed and gump&y when the coog left. And do yw know? She was laughing over It all. and saying to ner youngest brother, who stood near by, that she really liked it, for shfllhow felt she was making herself useful’' * “The idea! Liking to'wash kettles!’ and the two fine ladies looked at each other*in open-eyed wonder. “It Feemsto me as if Helena Mills was trying to make the best of her father’s altered fortunes, and was simply doing her duty in the premises,’’ spoke Miss Carlton, Ida Jamse’s new drawing teacher, who was that evening engaged in giving her pupil a lesson on the opposite side of the center table. She spoke in an earnest and yet modest way, and it being the vogue in New City hist then to patronize Miss Carlton, the pretty and accomplished graduate from Vassar, the two ladies looked at her amiably, and she went on: “Yes, perhaps,“replied Mrs, Smithson, “but how coylcl a girl of real nanive refinement '’(both sides of the “old stock”)take so kindly to washing pots and kettles. The fact of it is, people have been mistaken in Helena Mills. She never posessed* that innate gentility she has nad credit for. But every one finds their level, sooner or later—he, he!’ These two women, having thus summarily disposed of Helena Mills, socially, they repeated their belief that the lovely, dutiful young girl had now found her proper level over in their set until it was common talk in New City. Miss Carlton, in her round of professional calls among the socalled elite, was entertained in nearly every household with the information that Helena Mills had given up her studies even, and gone into the kitchen work —“and if you believe it she likes it.” Then would follow reflection upon the natural ability and bias of mind of young women who was “fond of washing dishes.” This sensible, accomplished little drawing teaoher was the only one to be found, who mingled in the “upper circles” of New City, who said a word either in praise or defense of Helena Mills’ new vocation. Miss Carlton always and everywhere protested that the young gifl’s course was not only praiseworthy but beautiful. She maintained that every woman, young or old, high or low, who took upon herself the labor of elevating the much abused as well as despised vocation of housework—upon which the comfort of every home depends—to a fine art, was a public benefactor. Miss Carlton’s friends all listened and laughed, and then went on with their senseless and malicious tirade. She was heartily glad when her engagements in New City were ended and she was not obliged to move in such “select” society, whose ideas were always a mere echo of opinions —no matter how trivial and foolish—which had been expressed by a few of its most wealthy members. ***** Mrs. Dr. Forbes, nee Miss Carlton, had heard very little about New City society for five years. Rut having occasion to pass through the place on the cars lately treated herself to a little gossip; chat with the conductor, whom she hud known as a New City gallant. “Theie is no particular news, Mrs. Forbes,” said he, “unless it is the engagement of Helena Mills to young lawyer Bartlett, sou of Colonel James Bartlett, you remember, owner of the big corner art store. A capital choice the young squire has made, too. She’s as good as gold, and everybody says she’s the best girl in the city. She is a perfect lady, withal, and treats everybody well. Not a bit of nonsense or shoddy about her. Why, bless you, Mrs. Forbes, when her father failed in ’72, she took entire charge of the family, and she has managed the house ever since. “Her father is now in business again for himself, and emp.oys more men than ever. Her mother, who has been an invalid for years, was forced by Helena’s example to try and exert herself so as to share her daughter’s burden to some extent. As the result of her new, active life she has followed, she lost all her ailments, and is now a happy, hearty and healthy woman. Helena's brothers have grown up to be fine, manly, helpful fellows, and the whole family are better ofT every way than before. As matters were going on before Mr. Mills’ failure, the whole family were in danger of being spoiled by too much luxury. “There was a good deal of talk at first among the big-bugs about Helena’s 'pots and kettles,’ and they used to say she had found her true 'level.’ I always thought there was a piece of malice in their talk, for the girls of her set envied her beauty and accom{ilishments. lam rather fond of tellng them now that Helena Mills has found her 'level’ in the richest, most influential, and just the best family in New City.’